Electric railway



(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. GUEST.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY. 7 No. 560,031. Patented May 12, 1896.

Fly/.1 K v r f g G fl A/ i y Inventor Witnesses J hn 3- Guest.

' fliomey ANDREW B GRAMAMJHOTO-Lrmb. WASHIH FIUNJJ t.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. GUEST.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 560,031. Patented May 12,1896.

Witnesses ome flit (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3. J H GUEST ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

No. 560,031. Patented May 12, 1896.

Inventor Wmnesses John .H. Sues z.

M. wncro-umawnsummgwc (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheetig.

J. H. GUEST. ELECTRIC RAILWAY. No. 560,031. Patented May 12, 1896.

Fig. 7.

m'zvzzsses; l'nvamor 4MM17 John it. Guest UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

JOHN H. GUEST, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,031, dated May 12, 1896.

Application filed December 3, 1895- Serial (N model) T 0 aZZ whom, it away concern;

lie it known that 1, JOHN ll. GUEST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Railway, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric-railway systems wherein the working conductor, or that from which the electric power is taken, is divided into insulated sections, which are pro-- gressively thrown into and out of connection with the power source by automatically-actuated switch devices as the car moves along its course.

My invention is especially designed for that class of apparatus wherein the switch repeats its cycle of actions with the passage of each car, the switch being set by the passage of the car off from the last of a number of sections into position where it will be taken up by a following car entering upon the first of the sections, the section of road embraced by the sections of working conductor connected to the switch being blocked while the car is passing over it, owing to the fact that the switch is not in position to supply power to the entering section of the blocked portion until the car passes off the last section.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, safe, and effective organization of ap paratus whereby the switch maybe operated and controlled to provide for the operation of the switch bya car moving in either direction and to give warning to a motorman when he reaches a blocked section of road.

My invention consists in the combinations and organizations of circuits and apparatus whereby the above and other objects are accomplished, as will be more particularly hereinafter described, and then specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section through an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a general plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical plan of the movable core. Fig. 4: is a plan of the apparatus with the top portion removed. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan of the plate carrying the connections between the switch-points. Fig. 6 is a general diagram of the apparatus. Figs. 7 and 9 are diagrams of modifications.

A is the power-generator, one pole of which is connected, as shown, to wire or conductor B, extending along the railway, and from which conductor the car takes current by wheel or brush, as well understood in the art, the circuit being completed over sections of working conductor a, and thence through the switch apparatus back to the power-generator.

In the diagram Fig. 6 six sections of workin g conductor a are shown, with each of which the car makes connection by a brush, wheel, or other device, as well understood in the art. A greater or less number of sections may be employed, as will be obvious. The actuating or controlling magnetic coils of the switch correspond in number to the sections a and are indicated by theletter C. These coils are connected to the proper operating or working circuits individually and in suitable order with the sections a, and operate upon a core or armature, (shown at D,) which moves progressively in a circle through the coils C, being guided and moving in contact with a tube 1), of some conducting material. The core D has a forward extension or head d, magnetically insulated from the body portion by the interposition of a strip (1 of some nonmagnetic material, such as brass. This extension projects into the coil ahead, while the main portion of the core is in a position of magnetic equilibrium within the coil behind, and at the rear it is provided with an extension (1, forming a circuit-closing contact for the switches to be presently mentioned. The coils C may be mounted between heads of suitable insulating material C, as shown, upon which latter may be fastened and supported suitable circuit-closers E, formed, preferably, as springs, which are fastened at one end, and at their other or free end are provided with heads of magnetic material 6, adapted to work through openings in the heads or blocks 0 and to be drawn by the magnetic attraction of the'core into contact with it when the latter is energized by a coil 0.

As shown in the cross-section, Fig. 1, and in plan, Fig. 3, the core D has in the surface which is engaged by the circuit-closers a strip of good conducting material 6', which preferably extends out into the rearward projection or tailpiece (1. The tube or guide D, in which the core moves with a sliding movement, is connected with one pole of the generator A, the opposite pole of which connects with the conductor B, so that when any circuit-closing spring E comes into contact with the core it will complete the connection to the power-generator from a section of working conductor, the spring itself being connected with such section. A corresponding connection with the working conductor exists for each section 0 of magnet-coil. This working connection for the spring and coilmaybe made directly, as indicated in the diagram Fig. 7, or may be made through suitable switch devices, as indicated in the diagram Fig. 0, and in each connection a safety-fuse to may be placed. The construction of these switch devices is more particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The object of these connections through the switch, or directly, as in Fig. '7, is to provide for a reversal of the regular order of connections of the sections of working conductor, so that, if desired, a car maymove over said sections either in the direction of the arrow 10, which is the normal direction of movement, orin the reverse direction indicated by the arrow 12.

A switch apparatus that may be employed for reversing the order of connections of the coils consists of the following parts: G is a suitable movable plate of insulating material carrying a series of movable contacts f, preferably spring-contacts, insulated from one another and adapted to bear on the series of contact-plates g, to which the working circuits leading from the sections aare individually connected. The contacts f normally complete connection between contacts g and plates 71, from which run connections direct to the circuit-closing springs E and coils C. By moving the plate or support and the contacts f in the direction of the arrow 13, Fig. 6, the connection is shifted from contacts h to a set of contacts 1', which are connected with contacts 7L at other points of the switch apparatus, as clearly shown in the diagram. \Vhen the switch stands in the po sition shown in full lines, the working conductors a are connected in the order 1 2 3 4c 5 b with the coils and switch-springs, as clearly shown. In order, however, that the car may pass in the reverse direction, (indicated by the arrow 12,) it is necessary that the coils should be connected with said working conductors in the reverse order to which 6 5 4.- 3 2 1, for which purpose the contacts 1 are connected with the contacts 7b in the manner shown by plates or wires on. The effect of moving the plates fis simply to shift the cow nections, as will be obvious, to plates '1' and produce this reverse order of connection.

The coils C may be energized from any suitable source, preferably from an'auxiliary generator A, which is also connected to conductor B, while the return-circuits of the coils C are joined together as shown in the diagram and by wire 11 carried to the generator A; or said coils might be placed in a high-resistanee shunt from the main or power circuit, as indicated in Fig. 8. The coils C are preferably of high resistance, and a resistance may also be interposechas indicated at R, in the circuit of generator A, so that no harm may come to persons or animals from being accidentally placed in the connection from B to the sections a. The passage of the car, however, onto one of the sections a will cause current to pass in sufficient amount to energize the coil C and cause progression or movement of the core D, if the latter is in proper position.

The general operation of the apparatus as thus far described will be as follows, assuming that the circuit-changer for reversing the connections of the conductors (a is in the position shown in the diagram: The core D stands in coil 0, connected to the No. (3, section a, where it is left as the car passes off said section, assuming that the car is moving in the direction of the .arrow 10. Another car when it enters section No. 1 completes the connection of the auxiliary generator A from B to the switch-point g, No. 1, through f, 71, the coil C, and back to the power-generator by connection 11, the head cl of the core being in position within the end of No. 1, coil 0. The latter draws the core along into position where Ho. 1, spring E, may be drawn down by the action of the magnet into connection with said core, thereby making connection through the tube D with the power-generator. As the car strikes the next section a, or No. 2 section, the core is moved another step, but its position in the No.2, coil 0, is such that the connection of the No. 1, spring E, is not broken, the latter now resting on the tailpiece cl, and not until the No. 3 section is reached is this connection broken. Sparking at the contacts of the switch is thereby avoided. Yv'hen, however, the No. 3 connection is made, then the No. 1 connection of spring E is broken and the No. 1, section (1-, entirely disconnected, so that any car entering upon said section will produce no effect upon the switch or obtain any power-current. The car passing over the remaining section finally reaches section b, and leaves the core in the position shown, ready for the entrance of the next car upon the No. 1, section a. It will be seen that during the passage of the car over such remaining sections no other car can enter upon the blocked portion of road covered by the six or more working conductors a.

Owing to the rubbing of the core upon the Contact ends of spring E the connection is always kept bright and good, and in the same way the rubbing of the core upon the tube D preserves a good connection with the power-circuit or return which is joined to said tube.

Should it be desirable to have a car pass in the opposite direction, it is only necessary to turn the cireuit-changing switch devices, as before explained, so that No. 6, working conductor a, will be joined with No. 1, coil 0,

and the progress of the cars over the sections in reverse order will cause the same movement of the switch apparatus that was produced by the movement of the car as already described, section No. 5 of the working conductor producing now the same effect as section No. 2, toperating as 3, 3 as i, 2 as 5, and 1 as 6. As will be obvious, this reverse connection of the coils may be made either through the circuit-changin g switch described or may be made direct, as indicated in the diagram Fig. 7, though in this case an uneven number of coils would be used.

The circuit changing or reversing switch may be operated by a knob or handle at K, or by other means. I also provide means for operating the same from either end of the blocked section of road,and have herein shown an electromagnetic operating and controlling device suited for the purpose.

L indicates at opposite ends of the section circuit-closin g devices of any suitable kind for tapping off current from the conductor B, or from the auxiliary power-generator or other source whereby either one of the two magnetcoils O 0 may be energized. The frame or plate G, which turns with the reversing switchcontacts, may haveaprojecting arm P, carrying at its end cores working in the coils O O, the latterbeing connected, as shown, with the circuit-closers L and with the auxiliary generator, so that by working one of said circuitclosers at the left of the block-section the coil will be energized and the switch moved into the position shown, where it will remain through its own inertia. By working the switch L at the opposite ends of the section coil 0 will be energized and the switch changed into position to reverse the connections and enable the ear to move over said section in the opposite direct-ion or direction of arrow 12.

In the connection from the tube D, which forms the common return for the working sections, I may include one or more semaphores of any kind (indicated at S) and place them at either one or both ends of the blocked section. \Vhen any car is passing over said blocked section, the magnet of the semaphore will be energized and show danger. I employ also in connection with the semaphore an alarm 'W, consisting of an electric bell preferably placed in the connection from sections of working conductor, as shown at the extremes of the block. By these signals IV the attention of the motorman will be called to the state of the visual signal or semaphore S. The magnets for the signals \V and S are preferably operated by a shunted portion of the current taken around artificial resistance R.

I do not limit myself to any particular construction of the switch for reversing the order of connections of the sections of working conductor, nor to the employment of a switch for such purpose, since, as has been described, the sections might have their working circuits or branches connected in reverse order directly through vthe core or tube, since, as will be obvious, the power connections might be established in other ways all in regular order or succession as the car passes over the sections, so as to set the parts successively in position for closing such power connections. In general, however, I prefer to use the circular range of coils and movable core, and I claim such special arrangement as a part of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination in an electric railway having a sectional working conductor, of a rotary magnetic switch, a series of actuatingcoils therefor corresponding in number to the sections and charged in succession, anda circuit-changer for reversing the order of connection of said coils whereby the switch may be caused to progressin the normal direction when a car passes in the reverse direction.

2. The combination with a series of actuating-coils arranged in a circle, and a core or armature progressively moved step by step through the successive actions of said coils, of a switch or circuit-changer between the coils and their working circuits whereby the order of connection of thelatter with the cores may be reversed.

3. In an electric-railway system, the combination with insulated sections of working conductor, of a rotary magnetic switch and a series of magnet-coils for producing rotation of the switch step by step, said coils having connections to two sections in the order described so as to produce rotation of the switch in the same direction for movement of the car in either direction.

at. The combination of a series of actuating magnet-coils and a core propelled in a circular path by the successive actions of said coils, said coils having connections as described to the circuit-closing devices whereby on progressive action of the latter in either direct or reverse order the coils may be energized in the same order or succession and the core be caused to progress in the same direction.

5. The combination in an electric-railway system, substantially as described, of a circular series of magnet-coils connected individually to sections of working conductor, a core movable through the same, and a conducting guide or tube in which said core slides and through which it makes connection with the return for the power-circuit.

6. The combination with the circular series of actuating coils and the core moving through the same as said coils are successively energized, of a series of circuit-closing armatures adapted to make connection with said core in its position of rest under the influence of each coil.

IIO

7. The combination of the circular series of coils haying connections individually and in regular order to a series of energizing-cireuits, of a core moving through the same and pro- Vided with a head magnetically insulated from the body of the core, as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination of the series of actuating-coils energized in succession, of the core moving through the same and provided with the circuit-closing tailpiece, and the series of circuit-closers adapted to engage with the core, as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination in an electricuailway system, of a rotary switch, a series of actuatin g-eoils connected to sections of working conductor for moving said switch step by step, and a series of circuit-closers magnetically actuated by said coils in the several positions of rest of said switch for the purpose of closing the power-circuit connections of the several sections.

10. The combination with the series of actuating-coils, of the core traveling in a circular path through the same and provided with a longitudinal strip of good conducting material and the series of circuit-closers adapted to engage with said strip.

ll. The combination in an electric-raih ay system, of a rotary step-by-step switch connected to sections of working conductor, a visual signal at the entrance of the block controlled by said switch, and an alarm or audible signal energized over a section of working conductor at the entrance of the block.

12. The combination with the rotary mag netic switch controlling a number of sections of working conductor so as to block a section of road, of a circuit-changer for reversin the order of connection of the sections with the actuating-coils, and means at the end of the blocked section for actuating said circuitchanger, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 2d day of December, A. D. 1805.

JOHN H. GUEST. lVitnesscs:

\VILLIAM ll. CAPEL, D. II. Dnencn. 

